Villosa Lilac vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Villosa Lilac vs White Fringe Tree

Syringa villosa

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Villosa Lilac
White Fringe Tree

Popular Hedge Species!

Villosa Lilac is a relatively large and cold hardy shrub. It provides excellent privacy and wind protection.

Its fragrant, pink flowers grow in clusters at the end of its branches during mid to late summer and fade to a light pink over time. Villosa Lilac grows quickly and is drought resistant, making it suitable for the outer row of a shelterbelt. Its roots are non-suckering and it does not compete with nearby crops.

If you alternate Villosa Lilac and Common Purple Lilac in your hedge, your hedge will flower for more of the summer than if you plant either Lilac on its own.

Note: Villosa Lilac is more salt-tolerant than most of our stock.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Villosa Lilac Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $1.49 - SAVE UP TO 79%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 5 m (16 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: blue to black
Flowers: fragrant purple clusters
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium

In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Other Names: late lilac
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree